howard



3, SheesSheeb 1. W. HOWARD.

$WING.

(No Model.)

Patented Mer. 24

I NDREW B.GRAHAM. PHOTOUTNQWASHINGTDN. 0.0.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

W. HOWARD. SWIHG.

No. 556,981, v Patented M124, 1896.

QWiiweoo-eo L W ANDREW B.GRAHAM.PHOTO'LITNQWAENIROFQNDC 3 Sheet,s--Sheec3.

(No Model.) r 4 V W. HOWARD.

Y SWING. v No. 556,981. Patented Mar. 24,1896.

hull-w v amen/[3oz ENDREW EGRAHAM.PHUTO-LTIHQWA5HINGTDNDC UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

\VALTER I'IOIVARD, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SWING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,981, dated March24, 1896.

Application filed August 10, 1895. Serial No. 558,805. (N0 model.) 7

T0 in whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,WALTER HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Swings; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the swing and of asupporting-frame therefor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the swingpartially in section, with the suspension-bars broken off, a canopybeing shown, while the guards areremoved. Fig. 2 is a detail perspectiveview of a canopy-frame for the seat. Fig. 3'is a detail sectional viewshowing the manner in which the end portions of the swing-bottom aresupported. Fig. i is a detail sectional view showing one of the bearingsfor the foot-power slide. Fig. 5 is .a perspective view showing aportion of the foot-power slide and its connections with thepower-levers. Fig. 6 is a detail view of means for adjusting thecanopy-frame. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partially in section, showing thefulcrum for one of the power-levers and its connection with theswing-frame. Fig. Sis a detail view showing how the swing may besuspended from the ceiling or other overhead support.

The object of this invention is mainly to provide a swing capable ofbeing easily and conveniently propelled by the riders by either hand orfoot power, or by a combination of both; also, to provide an improvedconstruction and arrangement of the seats with means .whereby they maybe adjusted both angupended.

the back, and facing each other.

B B designate the suspension-bars, there being four, two upon each side.These bars are pivoted to the frame A at their upper ends, and theirlower end portions are pivoted upon the end portions of transverse rods0 of the swing-frame. These rods extend entirely across the swing, onenear each enc thereof.

D D (see Fig. 3) are the longitudinal lower side bars of the swing,there being two of these bars upon each side, separated from each otherby a short interval, and parallel. Y

E is the bottom of the swing, which is suspended from the bars D D bythe clips F at each end portion (see Fig. 3) and by the bolts F (seeFig. 7) at the central portion.

Other suitable means may be employed for securing the bottom portion inplace, but they should preferably be of such character that said bottomportion can readily be detached. Said portion preferably consists of aseries of parallel longitudinal slats which are secured to transversecleats or bars 6.

G G designate the two seats, which extend across the swing, one at thefront and one at Said seats consist each of the two rear legs, g, whichare extended up to form the side rails for the backs G the forward legs,g, the seat portions G and the arms G The forward legs, g, of each seatare pivoted between the rails D D, and the rear legs, g, enter betweensaid rails and are provided with studs or bolts g which slide upon theupper edges of said rails as the seats are adjusted. The connection ofthese legs with the siderails is made adjustable, as illustrated, by theseries of holes, in order to adapt the seats to children and to grownpersons of different height. The seat and arm portions are pivotallyconnected to the legs to permit a parallel movement of the parts inadjusting.

In the drawings, Fig. 2, I have shown the seat G in reclining positionand have also shown it as being provided with a shade or canopy. Thisshade or canopy consists of a frame, such as shown in detail in Fig. 2,having a number of bail-shaped pieces H, the end portions of whosevertical lateral arms are adjustably and pivotally connected to the sidewhich is secured to the side bars D.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the canopy as the seat is givendifferent adjustments, the rear piece H is provided at each end with asector-plate H, which is pivoted to the back at 7L and is provided alongits curved edge with a series of apertures 71., any one of which isdesigned to be engaged by a pin which also engages an aperture in theside rail of the back. By means of this device'and the adjustableconnections of the other pieces H the canopy can be adjusted forward andback independently of the adjustment of the seats. Both seat-s may beprovided with a like canopy, if desired, or it may be omitted entirely,as when the swing is indoors or under cover. To secure the seats intheir desired adjustments, each is provided with a notch-bar I, thenotches of which are designed to engage a stud on an arm I of the frame.

J designates side bars, there being two of these bars upon each side.

K designates transverse hand-bars, two for each seat, which aresuspended across the swing by means of ropes J K the former of whichconnect to an upper bar J 2 and the latter to the respective bars J.

L designates vertical power-levers, two of which are provided upon eachside of the swing. Each of these levers is fulcrumed intermediately ofits ends at Z to an arm Z, (See Fig. 7.)

M designates the foot-power slide (see Fig. 5) which extendstransversely across the central portion of the swing upon the bottomthereof. This frame preferably consists of a series of slats, whichafford purchase for the feet, and which are secured to end cleats m.Said slide is mounted upon antifriction-rollers N, (see Fig. 4,) whichrun back and forth under pressure of the feet on tracks N secured to theupper faces of the lateral slats of the bottom E.

P are ropes or the like, one end of each of which is connected to onecorner portion of the slide-frame, and the other end of the lower arm ofthat lever upon the same side of the swing which is most distant. (SeeFig. 5.)

The upper arm of each lever L is fast to one of the bars J.

It will be observed from the manner in which the swing is suspended bythe bars 0 that it will oscillate in a horizontal plane with a risingand falling or parallel movement, as distinguished from a movement inthe arc of the circle described by the suspension-bars, and that anyleverage obtained on the said bars will cause the swing to oscillate.This leverage is obtained by hand-power through the bars K and J, andbyfoot-power through the slide -frame M, the connections P, thepower-levers L, and the bars J. The best re sults are obtained by usingboth hand and foot power in combination, but either may be used alone.

For indoor use the frame A may be dispensed with and the swing besuspended from the ceiling or other overhead support, as indicated inFig. 8.

B, Fig. 1, are lateral wire guards, which may be buttoned or otherwisedetachably secured upon each side of the swing.

It will be observed that the swing can be readily taken to pieces andthe parts be assembled in compact form for shipment or storage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a swing, the combination of the pivoted suspension-bars, theswing-frame pivoted to the lower end portions of the said bars, theupper side bars connected to the suspension-bars and to the swing-frameand the suspended hand-bars connected to the said side bars transverselyacross the swing in front of the seats, substantially as specified.

2. In a swing the combination of the oscillatory suspension-bars, theswing-frame pivotally supported between the lower end portions of thesaid bars, the upper side bars connected to the suspension-bars and tothe frameupon each side, the hand-bars c011- nected to the said sidebars, the foot slideframe adapted to travel back and forth on the bottomof the swing, the vertical powerlevers fulcrumed intermediately to armsof the swing-frame, and connections between the lower arms of the saidlevers and the said slide-frame and between their upper arms and thesaid side bars, substantially as specified.

3. In a swing the combination of the oscillatory suspension-bars,the'swing-frame pivotally supported between the lower end portions ofthe said bars, the upper side bars connected to the suspension-bars andto the frame upon each side, the foot slide-frame adapted to travel backand forth on the bottom of the swing, the vertical power-leversfulcrumed intermediately to arms of the swingframe, and connectionsbetween the lower arms of the said levers and the said slideframe, andbetween their upper arms and the said side bars, substantially asspecified.

4. In a swing, the combination of the suspension-bars pivoted at theirupper ends, the swing-frame having the transverse rods upon which thelower end portions of the said bars pivot, the side bars, the bottomportion having tracks, the foot slide-frame mounted on the said tracks,and connections between the said slide-frame and the suspension-bars,whereby the movement of said frame causes the swing to oscillate,substantially as specified.

5. In a swing, the combination of the suspension-bars pivoted at theirupper ends, the swing-frame having the transverse rods upon which thelower end portions of the said bars pivot, the bottom portion havingtracks, the slide-frame mounted to reciprocate on the said tracks, theupper side bars connected to said suspension-bars, the power-leversconnected to said side bars, the connections between the slide-frame andarms of the said levers, and hand-power devices also connected to thesaid side bars,substantially as specified.

6. In a swing, the combination of the suspension-bars A, the pivotedswing-frame having the detachable bottom portion, the tracks thereon,the slide-frame mounted to run on said tracks, the power-levers Lpivoted intermediately to vertical arms of the said frame, the ropes Pwhich connect the said frame with the lower arms of the said levers, andthe upper side bars, which connect said suspension-bars and the upperarms of the said levers, substantially as specified.

7. In a swing, the combination with the swing-frame having two parallelbars at each side, of the seats consisting each of the forward legportions g whose lower end portions are adjustably pivoted between therespective pairs of said bars, rear legs which are parallel with theforward legs and whose lower ends enter between the said bars and carryvertically-adjustable bolts arranged to slide upon the said bars, saidrear legs being extended to form supports for the seat-backs, and theparallel arm and seat portions which connect the forward and rear legsand are pivoted thereto, together with a locking device for securing theseat in the desired ad justment.

8. In a swing, the combination with a seat havingan egztended back, ofthe canopy, consisting of the frame having a series of bailshaped pieceswhose vertical arms are pivotally and adjustably secured to the siderails of the back, the rearmost of said pieces having sector-plateswhich are pivoted to the back and have a series of holes adapted toreceive a locking-pin, and a suitable covering for the said frame,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

l/VALTER HOWARD. Witnesses GEO. H. PARMELEE, Z. E. HOGARTY,

